Infant&#39;s folding combination bath stand and dressing table



W. C. BAXTER ETAL I Sept. 22, 1942.

INFANTS FOLDING COMBINATION BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABLE Filed July 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORISZ' 1 --aew ATTdRNEY.

W. C. BAXTER ET AL INFANTS FOLDING COMBINATION BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABLE Sept. 22, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1941 INVENTORfif 2 r awe?- 'WZzzma Patented Sept. 22, 1942 INFANTS FOLDING COMBINATION BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABLE -William C. Baxter and Harold E. Stonebraker,

Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Trimble Nurseryland Furniture, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 18, 194-1, Serial'No. 402,926

.8 Claims.

This invention relates to an infants folding combination bath stand and dressing table, of the general type in which a-dressing'table is positionable over a-tub, and when not in use, is located in a vertical position at the rear of the tub, and it has for its object to afford an improved-construction and relationship between the tub support and table frame whereby the structure 'may be folded more compactly so as to occupy less space for shipping, and the table is supported in a manner that increases the efficiency and practicability of the structure.

In devices of this character heretofore, the table frame which carries a canvas or flexible covering rests on top of the tub frame when in operative horizontal position, and the canvas or supporting element of the table is located considerably above the top of the tub and tub support, depending upon the thickness of the table frame, and in order to overcome the disadvantages of such a construction, the present invention includes a table frame constructed and arranged so as to telescop over and around the tub support, so that when the table is in horizontal operative position, the table frame surrounds the upper part of the tub and tub support, the tops of the tub support and table frame lie in substantially the same horizontal plane, and the canvas supporting element of the table is located adjacent to the top of the tub support and is thus considerably lower than heretofore and in a position more convenient for use with reference to the position of the tub.

In a more particular aspect, the invention has to do with a foldable structure including rec- I tangular tub and table frames hinged to each other and foldable one within the other together, with pivoted supporting legs located and foldable within the tub frame, so that when the entire structure is collapsed, the tub and supporting legs are arranged between the top and bottom edges of the tub frame, and the table frame is located around the tub frame, so that the entire device occupies only the space defined between the top and bottom edges of the tub frame.

Another object of th invention is to afford a somewhat larger canvas table for a given size of tub frame, also to lower the operating position of the table with reference to the tub, and to permit the canvas of the table to rest upon the top of the tub frame instead of supporting it entirely from the table frame, thus imparting somewhat increased resiliency to the central area of the canvas supporting element of the table and affording more of a yielding-or spring action for the central area of thecanvas.

A further purpose of the invention is to :afford a construction making it possible to apply the above described features to a cross-legged type of tub'support in which the tub is mounted between two longitudinal top rails of the leg frames, thedesired result in this instance being accomplished by constructing the table frame so that it telescopes over and surrounds the upper portions of the leg frames when in horizontal operative position, and is movable toa vertical position behind the tub and extending downwardly from the upper part of the tub support when not in use, the table frame being slidingly and swingingly mounted on the rear leg frame of the support.

To these'and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one structure embodying rectangular tub and table frames, with the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, with the supporting legs extended and the table frame in horizontal or operative position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the table frame in its vertical inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation showingthe application of the invention to a cross-legged type of tub support;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the table in vertical inoperative position; v

Fig. 8 is a detail enlarged end elevation showing the supporting means for the table frame;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the same, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional View through one end member of the table frame and showing the supporting means therefor.

The invention may be carried out in a variety of ways and with different types of tub supports, and referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views, and to Figs. 1 to '5 inclusive, the structure there shown is of a type designed to rest and support a tub on a conventional table and includes a rectangular tub frame I, having secured thereto the collapsible tub 2 of rubber or other suitable material. 3 designate foldable supporting legs, the ends of which are pivotally secured within the rectangular tub frame I in a manner that permits the legs to be extended to the position shown in Fig. 2 for supporting the tub frame above a table with the tub 2 in position for use, or to be folded within the tub frame I and against the collapsed tub 2 when the structure is folded for carrying or shipping.

In devices of this character, it is desirable to provide a dressing table foruse in dressing an' infant after the bath, and in the construction just referred to, the dressing table includes a rectangular table frame 4 having stretched thereover and secured thereto the supporting element 5 of canvas or other suitable material. The table frame 4 is somewhat larger than the tub frame I, so that when in horizontal operative position, the table frame entirely surrounds the tub frame, occupying a telescoping relation, as shown in Fig. 4, the tops of the table and tub frames being in approximately the same horizontal plane and the canvas element -5 of the table frame lying close to or contacting the top of the tub frame I, or the rubber material extending thereover and forming the tub.

With this arrangement, the available surface of the canvas element or table is larger than where the table frame rests upon the top of the tub frame as in prior structures, and by having the canvas element 5 contact or rest against the top of the tub frame, the pull on the canvas is from the outer edges of the table frame directly inwardly in a horizontal direction to the inner edges of the tub frame whence the canvas is deflected or stretched downwardly when weight is placed on it. This causes somewhat greater downward movement of the central portion, and consequent greater resiliency of the central area of the canvas and more of a spring action when weight is applied than where the pull is directly downward from the inner edges of the table frame.

In order to permit the table to be moved out of the way when the tub is in use, there are provided hinges 6 (which are securedto adjacent surfaces of the tub and table frames at their lower edges, as shown in Fig. 4, permitting a swinging relation between them about an axis adjacent to the bottom rear edge of the tub frame so that the table frame can readily be swung to the vertical position shown in Fig. 5 when not in use. I designates a canvas strip connecting the table frame and tub frame for limiting upward movement of the table frame, and 8 designates a spring connecting an eye 9 on the tub frame and an eye I on the table frame, and acting by its relation to the pivotal point to hold the tableframe in either horizontal operative position, as shown in Fig. 3, or lvertical position as shown in Fig. 5.

With this construction, when the device is to be transported or packed, the table frame can .be moved to the position of Fig. 3 where it surrounds the tub frame and the tub collapsed, also the legs 3 folded until they occupy a position within the tub frame against the'tub, and between the canvas element and the lower edge of the tub frame. Thus the parts can all" be packed in a carton or carrier of a size but little larger than necessary to accommodate the table frame, anda-bout half the thicknessjthatis-required if the table frame is supported ontop of the tub frame. In order to prevent excessive wear on the canvas at the front where it rests on the tub frame, metal strips ll may be employed located at the corners of the table frame immediately under the canvas element 5 and in position to overlie the corners of the tub frame, and thus relieve the canvas from excessive weight at these points.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, the structure there shown includes a cross-legged stand comprising leg frames I3 and I4, pivotally connected at It and including a tub support consisting of longitudinally extending top rails ll, between which is secured the conventional collapsible tub I8. The dressing table includes a table frame consisting of front and back members l9 and end members 20, while 2| designate rods having offset ends 22 that are attached to the under surfaces of the end members 20 to permit the necessary sliding and swinging action of the table. 23 designates the canvas or fabric covering over the table frame secured in any convenient manner, and the table frame is of such size that when in horizontal operative position, itsurrounds the top rails and the upper ends of the leg frames, occupying a telescoping relation to the upper portion of the tub and leg frames, with the canvas or table element 23 in contact with or adjacent to the top rails I! of the tub frame and the upper ends of the leg frames.

In order to permit movement of the table to a vertical position behind the tub frame, there are provided supporting trunnions 24 formed as parts of brackets 25 which are attached near the upper ends of the legs of the rear leg frame I3. The trunnions 24 extend endwise away from the leg frame toward and beneath the end members of the table frame and engage the slots formed between the end members 20 and the rods 2|, while 26 are heads secured to the outer ends of the trunnions 24 to hold the table frame thereon.

The trunnions 24 support the table in a vertical inoperative position at the rear of the tub and tub frame, as shown in Fig. 7, and when the table is to be used, it is lifted and tilted about the trunnions 24, being slid forwardly at the same time and moved downwardly over the tub frame until it occupies the horizontal operative position indicated in Fig. 6, the length of the slots between the rods 2! and the table frame being sufficient to permit the necessary sliding action of the table between its extreme positions.

While the canvas element of the table has been shown as in contact with the upper ends of the leg frames and the tub support, and there are advantages in this arrangement, the telescoping relation between the tub support and table frame may be maintained without having the canvas element in actual contact with the top of the tub support or frame, as for instance, the canvas element may be disposed slightly above the tub frame when in its horizontal operative position while still retaining the telescoping relation in which the table frame extends entirely over the tub and tub frame and surrounds the upper portions thereof.

and dressing table, the combination with a tub support including parallel rails, of a dressing table including a rectangular table frame and a flexible covering therefor, said table frame being somewhat larger than the tub support and positioned around the latter in telescoping relation with the tops of said rails and of the table frame in substantially the same horizontal plane when the table is in horizontal operative position with the flexible covering located adjacent to the tops of said rails.

2. In an infants folding combination bath tub and dressing table, the combination with a rectangular tub frame, of a dressing table including a rectangular table frame and a flexible covering therefor, said table frame being somewhat larger than the tub frame and positioned around the latter in telescoping relation when the table is in horizontal operative position with the tops of the tub and table frames in substantially the same horizontal plane and said flexible covering on the table frame being located adjacent to the top of the tub frame.

3. In an infants folding combination bath tub and dressing table, the combination with a rectangular tub frame, of a dressing table includ ing a rectangular table frame and a flexible covering therefor, said table frame being somewhat larger than the tub frame, and hinge connections between the lower edges of the rear portions of said frames, the table frame when in horizontal operative position being in telescoping relation around the tub frame, with the tops of the tub and table frames in substantially the same horizontal plane and said flexible covering on the table frame being located adjacent to the top of the tub frame.

4. In an infants folding combination bath tub and dressing table, the combination with a rectangular tub frame. a collapsible tub secured within said tub frame, supporting legs pivoted to and foldable within said tub frame against the collapsible tub, of a dressing table including a rectangular table frame and a flexible covering therefor, said table frame being somewhat larger than the tub frame, and hinge connections between the lower edges of the rear portions of said frames, the table frame when in horizontal operative position being in telescoping relation around the tub frame with the tops of the tub and table frames positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane and said flexible covering on the table frame being located adjacent to the top of the tub frame, whereby the parts when collapsed are confined substantially between the top and bottom surfaces of the tub frame.

5. In an infants folding combination bath stand and dressing table, the combination with pivotally connected front and rear leg frames each including top rails, and a tub supported between said top rails, of a dressing table including a table frame pivotally and slidably connected to the rear leg frame, the table frame being longer than said rails and wider than said tub and positioned around said top rails and the tops of the leg frames in telescoping relation when in horizontal operative position with the tops of the table frame and top rails in substantially the same horizontal plane.

6. In an infants folding combination bath stand and dressing table, the combination with pivotally connected front and rear leg frames each including top rails, and a tub supported between said top rails, of a dressing table including a table frame comprising end members, rods secured to the undersides of said end members and spaced therefrom, supporting trunnions secured to the rear leg frame and extending through the slots afforded between said rods and the end members of the table frame, said supporting trunnions being located in rear of the leg frame and offset endwise beneath the top of the leg frame, affording a support for the table frame that permits a sliding and swinging movement of the same from a position vertically behind the leg frame to a horizontal position over the top rails and tops of the leg frames in'telescoping relation therewith, the table frame being longer than said top rails and wider than said tub and located when in horizontal operative position around the top rails in telescoping relation with the tops of the table frame and top rails in substantially the same horizontal plane.

7. In an infants folding combination bath tub and dressing table, the combination with a tub support including parallel rails, of a dressing table including a rectangular table frame and a flexible covering therefor, said table frame being somewhat larger than the tub support and positioned around the latter in telescoping relation when in horizontal operative position, the table frame being supported in such horizontal position by the flexible covering resting upon said parallel rails.

8. In an infants folding combination bath tub and dressing table, the combination with a rectangular tub frame, of a dressing table including a, rectangular table frame and a flexible covering therefor, said table frame being somewhat larger than the tub frame and positioned around the latter in telescoping relation when in horizontal operative position, the table frame being supported by the flexible covering resting upon the tub frame.

WILLIAM C. BAXTER. HAROLD E. STONEBRAKER, 

